The Importance of Low Worker Injury and Illness Rates in the Senior Living Industry

If you own or manage a senior living facility, patient safety is top-of-mind. But, have you considered how best to protect your staff of health professionals, technicians, support workers and others from injury or illness on the job? There are approximately 3.4 million health care workers in the nursing and residential care industry in the U.S.,* leaving many opportunities for worker injury or illness to occur while at work. High rates of illness or injury can draw the attention of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

OSHA’s focus on the health care industry concentrates on workplaces with injury rates from Day Away from Work, Restricted, or Transferred (DART) above the 5.4 industry average for nursing/residential. Earlier this year, OSHA contacted about 1,000 nursing homes as possible inspection targets, sending “warning” letters. If your DART rate is higher than 5.4, your organization could be subject to an OSHA inspection.

The AssuredPartners NL Risk Management Service team can work with your organization to limit exposures and protect against OSHA review. The AssuredPartners NL senior living team will work with you to make sure that your organization is on the right track with your workers’ compensation policies and plans to reduce your DART rate. To learn more or to contact an agent, visit: Clinical Risk Management.